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What should I do if I received a letter from the Chicago Police about a car?
If you receive a letter from the Chicago Police about a car that is no longer in your possession, you can fax supporting documents to the Department of Administrative Hearings to prove you are no longer the owner.
This can help you avoid further liability.
The City of Chicago requires residents to purchase a city vehicle sticker for any vehicle they drive, park, lease, or own in the city, even if the vehicle is registered outside of Chicago.
Failure to do so can result in fines and impoundment.
If a vehicle is booted due to unpaid tickets or fees, the boot will be removed once the owner pays the boot fee and any outstanding fines or penalties owed to the city.
Vehicle impoundment in Illinois can happen for a wide variety of reasons, and the vehicle owner does not need to be present in some cases.
Retrieving an impounded car can be expensive and time-consuming.
If a vehicle was stolen at the time and the theft was reported to the appropriate police authorities within 24 hours, the owner may be able to provide satisfactory proof to avoid liability.
The registered owner can request a one-time 15-day extension before a vehicle is sold or disposed of by contacting the Department of Streets and Sanitation.
If a vehicle was damaged while in the custody of the Central Pound or O'Hare Auto Pound, the owner can file a claim with the Office of the City Clerk's office.
Police can impound a car if they need it as evidence of a crime or if the person driving the car is arrested.
This is known as a "police hold" impound.
Cars can also be booted and impounded for having 3 or more overdue parking tickets in Chicago.
To find out why the city impounded a car, the owner should contact the city department that issued the Notice of Violation.
If an owner files a timely hearing request for an impounded vehicle, they will be notified of the hearing date and time by the Department of Administrative Hearings.
Owners have up to 45 days after a default judgment to redeem their impounded car, but after that time, the car may no longer be available.
The Department of Administrative Hearings in Chicago is responsible for handling impoundment hearings and making determinations.
Owners can request a full hearing with the Department of Administrative Hearings within 15 days of receiving the notice of impoundment.
Satisfactory proof of ownership change, such as a charitable receipt or trade-in form from an auto dealer, can be used to demonstrate the owner is no longer responsible for the vehicle.
The City of Chicago's Payment Escalation Unit will mail a letter to the owner with its determination after reviewing the case.
Owners can call 312-744-7275 to locate their towed or impounded vehicle and find out where it is being held.
Impoundment fees and outstanding fines or penalties must be paid before an owner can retrieve their vehicle from the impound lot.
The Chicago Police Department has specific procedures and guidelines for seizing or impounding vehicles, which are outlined in their CPD 12156 form.
Navigating the impoundment process in Chicago can be complex, so it's important for owners to act quickly and provide all necessary documentation to resolve the issue.
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